Days Events:

Wx - TSM last night; today 75/91, humid of course.

Marina - remains choppy, constantly, although last night was relatively calm. Changed the aft fender to a horizontal orientation [i.e. now a 'board']; tightened the stern spring line and we seem to be rolling a bit less, per the boss.

Our dock has a residential/adopted duck, which nests beside a fire extinguisher post, in a flower planter, with a shade placed by the locals; he/she [presumed 'she' as well camouflaged, no bright colors] hissed at me when we arrived.

Shopping - walked to a small corner grocery/cafe, 2 blks away, through nice older neighborhood of smaller homes. Bought a few essentials - diet coke, diet ginger ale, chips, cucumber, a raspberry tart, apples; this will top up what we have.

Photos - the marina entrance from the shore street - nice building, a sailing school office, non-polluting area with all runoff controlled; the corner cafe, along a quiet residential street also. Marg has her nocturnal creation. Added 2 more Thurs. a.m. after the TSM last night - one of the Annapolis 'Bay' showing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge 5 miles distant; and one showing Beneteau sailboats with their dual helms aft - 3 of them next to one another; most sailboats have only a single helm; the Beneteau's are high-$ ones I think.

Humor - a sample from jokes, poking fun at men, sent by Janice Fehr that we enjoyed:

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, 'What setting do I use on the washing machine?'

'It depends,' I replied. ‘What does it say on your shirt?' He yelled back, 'OHIO STATE !' And they say blondes are dumb....

Reading - Started one recommended by Simpson Russell - Dispatches from Pluto: lost & found in the Mississippi Delta. A delightful read so far, about the deep South, race relations, life in general.

Admirals Desk: Greetings.

We are currently under an extreme heat advisory, a severe thunderstorm watch and a flash flood advisory. I suspect we can ignore the flood advisory. It's been an unpleasant summer, even for the south. Really appreciate our a/c and the pilothouse!

Ended up staying in today. Most things are closed, including the tours that interested us. Some are available tomorrow, but none have online tickets. Walk up only. Some restaurants have limited dine-in. So I baked cookies - from scratch! I wasn't having much luck with the mixes. Baking is not my forte and I don't really enjoy it. I prefer cooking. Anyway, baked some pretty decent chocolate chip cookies. The Captain is always appreciative.

The storm just arrived with one monster wave!! A few things hit the floor, but fortunately it was just one wave. Weird. No damage, but the Captain was slightly scary out there trying to add fenders. I've reminded him that I can't drive the boat by myself should he have been blown overboard. The wind has switched so now we are much better situated. Good night all.

Maintenance:

Strainer - not much gunk this time in the basket, so did a quick water spray clean and replaced it without needing to prime the pump. It seems that leaving the strainer glass full - i.e. don't vac out the water to clean it - stops the pump hose from draining down/back as much and so the priming isn't required. It's my theory and the Admiral agreed so it must be accurate. Forgot to drop a piece of copper [Cu] in the basket - will do next time.

Engine degreasing - wiped down the flywheel/forward face and the 'inside' forward quarter of the stbd engine, including the oil pan bolts/pan itself; having a clean surface allows any oil/liquid leaks to be more quickly seen and dealt with. I use Spray Nine for the degreasing.

Covid19 - we were notified via our Forum that NY and NJ States require 14 day quarantines for people coming from States with high infection rates [30+]; this will not affect us staying on the boat except for groceries and other essential supplies, including boat repairs. It is a 'voluntary' quarantine and they won't be parachuting in federal agents to watch you while you are docked.

The corner store I was in - the woman wore a mask and had a sign asking customers to do so, but only I was - 2 individuals who came in to purchase something did not. Some businesses across the country are having difficulties managing 'masking' when some customers become almost violent in their refusal to don a mask! The business is staying open and putting their employees at risk via exposure from someone who may be infected and refuses to wear a mask because 'it is their constitutional right' to refuse to wear one -- however, it is not their right to infect other people!!

That's all. Tomorrow, we head for Osprey Point, at Rock Hall, on the East Shore, only 20 miles. The forecast is light SW winds, which will be on our stern and make for a pleasurable day on the water. Stay safe.

Comments:

Ernie R - 23 Jul 2020: Rob, if you could please provide the duck mini homes dimensions on the dock I would be happy to propose adding them to TP at next Bridge (in your name of course!). Be Safe!

Robert & Margaret - 24 Jul 2020: I checked with the duck if we could do that and he said 'No'. I asked why, and he said TPYCC marina didn't have the same standards as his marina and he couldn't recommend to another duck to take up residence there! :)

Dick - 24 Jul 2020: Ohio State .... nice shirt and if he can only take one, Rob chose wisely.